Teacher charged with biting pleads not guilty

The fifth-grade teacher accused of biting a student during an arm wrestling match pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Voorheesville Village Court.

Michael Guerette did not speak with reporters after his court appearance. His attorney, James Knox, told reporters the incident was “just another day in the classroom” and that “(Guerette) reported the incident out of a sense of extreme caution.”

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office charged Guerette with endangering the welfare of a child on Dec. 21. Read my original story detailing the sheriff’s account of the alleged incident here. Guerette told YNN last week that the student’s arm unintentionally made contact with mouth.

Justice Kenneth Connolly issued an order of protection prohibiting Guerette from contacting the female student. The teacher was released without bail.

(Knox) said he would negotiate with county Assistant District Attorney Shannon Sarfoh for a resolution in the case. He said he had received several letters from parents and students who support Guerette.

Guerette was arrested and placed on leave. The school district said the incident was “difficult to comprehend and impossible to justify.”

Tuesday’s court proceeding was scheduled to start at 6 p.m., but did not begin until about 6:45 p.m. because Guerette showed up about 20 minutes late and his attorney about 45 minutes late.

The use of instruction time for arm wrestling during the holiday season, when kids are wound up, was bad enough. Biting a student was crazy. Failing to have the nurse look at the injury was negligent. Waiting to report it until after dismissal was inappropriate. Showing up for court late was arrogant and disrespectful. A good teacher would not behave in this highly unprofessional manner. This is an embarrassment to the profession.

I feel like people in this school district have no idea what an actual problem is. It’s sad that schools face the challenges they do and the over reporting of one weird incident is really quite disheartening. Currently, I teach teenage special education students in an urban environment not far from Voorheesville. I buy about 1/4-1/2 of school supplies used in my class because of budget cuts. I supply the students in my class with used clothing because they have families that fail to realize that dressing their children should not wear in shorts during the winter. I work with children who have challenges communicating and because of this, I am often hit, or bit, or spit at. However, if I was offered a job in the Voorheesville School District today, I would probably not take it. I would rather spend my days actually making changes in the lives of others than gossiping about one secluded incident. I would love for the challenges I face in my classroom every single day to become front page news. I imagine that will not happen any time soon.

To be early is to be on time.
To be on time is to be late.
To be late is to be forgotten.
The school district should fire this fool, his actions reveal his true character. I fully agree with @Vville mom, this “man” is a total embarrasment to NOT only the school, but the entire profession.

Dia, it is an actual problem that a teacher bit a student. It is an actual problem that he did not see to her care or inform his administrator immediately after the incident (this was before lunch, and he waited until after dismissal). It is an actual problem that this man’s judgment is impaired to the extent that he even get his students escalated to this level. I hope and pray that you do not come to our district, because you clearly have lost your perspective.
Snicker Doodle, I read all of your comments, and have found them to be balanced and sensible. Some people like Guerette, and therefore don’t want him to be held responsible for his actions. Behavioral standards must hold fast, even when we like some one.

Well said, Vville mom.
As for dia’s coment: what allegedly occurred in the classroom is irrelevant to how difficult teaching is, or budget cuts, or how good the teacher may be; there is no justification for biting a student under any circumstances, playful or not. It did not help that he and his attorney were tardy to their court time, either.

What does families not dressing their children properly have to do with a little girl coming home with teeth marks on her arm from her teacher? I would like to know where the girl’s parents stand also.

@ Vville mom and Snicker Doodle: you are not the only ones who think it’s disturbing. I think it’s disgusting — unprofessional, not to mention unsanitary! I can’t believe people are trying to justify this guy’s actions or stand up for him. Personally I don’t care if he’s a saint–this one incident is extremely disturbing and should give pause to every parent whose children come in contact with him.

Glad to see the recent comments…….in looking at the other blog, I have been disturbed by some of the comments toward people who feel similarly to me, alluding to vendettas and unresolved personal issues……The community didn’t to this to Guerette. He created the situation in the classroom, and he injured the child. His actions lead to his being charged with a crime. He is not the victim here!

Sounds like he tries to be the “cool teacher”, but is actually the “boundary issues teacher”. Arm-wrestling in exchange for no homework? Biting or no biting, whatever was going on in that classroom was not teaching, but it sure is creepy.

I don’t think his lawyer is doing him any favors. “Just another day in the classroom?” Are you kidding me? He makes it sound like this happens all the time. Does it? Its bad enough when the accused sticks his foot in his mouth, but his counsel? I hope he is doing this for free.

I was amazed by all the support this teacher had on some of the other threads. Finally, some sensible people here! Guerette clearly crossed a few boundaries here, and I find his actions inexplicable and disturbing.

To top it all off,he arrives for court 20 mins. late and his attorney arrives 45 mins. late. Brilliant!